Eyre Peninsula clubs, SANFL consider football and netball restructure

Plans of a restructure are being floated for one of SA’s biggest country footy and netball regions, with the SANFL set to meet with local league and club representatives. See what the future could hold.

Plans of a restructure are being floated by SANFL and local clubs and leagues in order to save the future of sport in one of the state’s major football and netball regions.

This masthead can confirm the Eyre Peninsula Football Board - made up of club, league and independent representatives - has held talks with local competitions, clubs and the SANFL around a potential restructure for football, and consequentially netball, in the region.

Planning started in March, 2023 when the board held a meeting to discuss current league and club structures.

EP footy, made up of four competitions since the demise of the Mid West Football League in 2021 - the Port Lincoln Football League, Great Flinders Football League, Eastern Eyre Football League and Western Eyre Football League, has been relatively healthy in recent years but some clubs have reportedly struggled with playing numbers and weekly travel.

Eyre Peninsula football bodies have discussed a possible restructure in the region. Pictured is Western Eyre FL premier Western United. Picture: Western Eyre Football League

Independent EP Football Board rep, Gus Glover said the restructure process was still in the early stages.

“It was born from the fact we lost the Mid West league a couple years ago and how quickly that happened - we learned that change can happen at any time and could be a bit messy if we’re not planning for it,” Glover said.

“We felt like we needed to have some discussions with clubs about what the future held and everyone has agreed more change is required.

“We currently have a crossover of travel in our four-competition system where some clubs are having to travel too far and through towns which are part of other leagues, and clubs are also struggling with volunteer fatigue as well as junior playing numbers and ageing lists as young people continue to move to Adelaide for study or work opportunities.

Marble Range clashes with Boston during the 2024 Port Lincoln FL season. Picture: Rosalie Calderwood

“We’ve had time for discussion and consideration with clubs and leagues and now we need to start planning what the restructure is going to be, which is where I see the next 12 months heading.”

Glover said a number of potential solutions had been discussed from amalgamating clubs to combining leagues.

“We’ve looked at a range of things including neighbouring clubs aligning so they can combine resources and have more sustainable numbers.

“We have also discussed reducing playing numbers on the ground at both junior and senior level but this is not widely accepted because it’s not a traditional model of what a team should look like.”

SANFL head of community football, Shawn Ford. Picture: Sarah Reed

SANFL head of community football, Shawn Ford is set to meet with the EP Football Board later this month.

He said talks would continue through next season.

“The positive from our position is leagues aren’t unhappy and all of the Eyre Peninsula clubs look pretty good,” he said.

“We’ll continue to have conversations around what the future may look like and we’re going to ensure netball comes along for the ride as well - we’re really big on that.”